#MySubwayAd an Interfaith Response

I always hear the sentiment ‘why aren’t all the Muslims standing up and saying something’ either when something violent happens that includes a small handful of Muslim extremists – or when some religious cleric or leader decides to voice hate speech based on ignorance. My frustrated response is well you’re talking to a Muslim right now who is basically saying I don’t agree with hate speech and I believe in non-violence, hence I denounce the act of extremists. Well today on Facebook, I saw a disgruntled call for ‘where are all the Christians’ in response to the subway ads that AFDI released. This story is a collection of responses from diverse faith based and non-faith organizations and people in response to these hateful subway ads:

This anti-Muslim sentiment in the United States is just disgusting. Where are all the “Christians” (there are people I do believe are real Christians, I am calling out the hate filled Bible thumping fundaMENTAList zealots) to call out this unacceptable behavior? Do people not know Allah and God are the same person?Do they not know they Jews and the Muslims both descend from Abraham? Do they not know the stories of lineage are similar with one being 12 tribes and the other being 12 princes?

United Methodist Church responds:

Check it out! Harriett Olson of United Methodist Church stands against hate speech in NY subway ads and debuts counter ad to be placed in subway that reads: Hate speech is not civilized. Support peace in word and deed. #MySubwayAd pic.twitter.com/rhsJ50xT

I have a lot of anger about the ads on subways in NYC calling Muslims savages in an effort to garner support for Israel. This is NOT what being pro-Israel can be about. The attached response by the Muslim community is gracious and full of the kind of equanimity that we must all strive for in these harrowing times.